Gerard Pique Given All-Clear For El Clasico

Barcelona’s Gerard Pique will be eligible to face Real Madrid next week after escaping further punishment for the caution he received against Rayo Vallecano.

Pique was booked for time-wasting in the 83rd minute of Barca’s 4-0 win on Tuesday, his fifth caution of the season with the one-match ban ruling him out of this weekend’s meeting with Levante.

The competition committee met on Friday to decide if Pique deserved further punishment for deliberately seeking a caution so as to avoid the risk of being suspended for El Clasico, but ruled in favour of the Barcelona defender.

A statement on the Barcelona club’s website said:

“Gerard Pique will miss the league match at Camp Nou on Saturday through suspension after the competition committee confirmed his suspension for the accumulation of cards. He was booked in the second half against Rayo, his fifth since the start of the league season, and must serve a one-match ban against Levante.”